CHARLOTTE — The best part of football is the memories it creates. Moments that are talked about years later as fans recall exactly where they were when it happened, and gain forever bragging rights if they were in the stadium.

The Carolina Panthers might be one of the younger franchises in NFL history, now heading into their 31st year in the league. But the Cardiac Cats have delivered plenty of iconic moments, both in the franchise, and for the league overall.

So, as we look ahead to the Panthers 2025 season, we want to also take a moment and look back. Featuring moments from Super Bowl runs, Hall of Famers, and a recent edition, here is one historical play against each opponent in the upcoming season.

Week 1 at Jacksonville

It was the 2015 season, the start of what would become a magical run, and the Panthers were kicking off in Jacksonville. Carolina had a small one-point 10-9 lead mid-way through the third quarter, when Blake Bortles tried to fit a pass in between two defenders. Josh Norman didn't let him get away with it.

Norman took the interception back 30-yards for the pick-6 touchdown, throwing a little shade Bortles way as he did so, and then of course, riding Delta through the end zone in celebration.

Week 2 at Arizona

The first of two Kurt Warner appearances on this list. It was 2009 and the Panthers were in the desert trying to avenge their loss to the Cardinals in the 2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs. They did just that, using the second quarter to build an insurmountable lead. The scoring just before half was capped by a signature Julius Peppers play.

The outside linebacker leveled the poor tight end assigned to block him, and jumped into Warner's throwing lane. He hoisted the football up one handed like a trophy and he strolled into the end zone for the 13-yard pick-6 score.

Week 3 vs. Atlanta

Deep into the 2015 season, the Panthers were on the hunt for an undefeated season and picked up a huge win against the Falcons at home. The Falcons would go on to disrupt that perfect season two weeks later, but the Week 14 matchup at home was a rout, a 38-0 win during which Cam Newton threw for three touchdowns. The last one was a vintage gutsy Newton play, threading the ball past two defenders heads to fit in to Ed Dickson, who made the grab with a defender draped on his back.

Week 4 at New England

It was 2017 and the Patriots were coming off a win in Super Bowl LI. They lost only three times the entire regular season, but the second loss was handed to Tom Brady and crew by the Panthers in Week 4. It was a back-and-forth high scoring affair, and the Panthers made sure to have the ball last. It led to a Graham Gano walk-off 48-yard field goal that moved the Panthers to 3-1.

Week 5 vs. Miami

The Panthers were in Week 10 of the 2017 season, sitting at 6-3 and needing to get through the 4-4 Dolphins before a late bye.

With a littler under six minutes left in the third quarter, Newton took a designed quarterback run deep in his own territory, and then did Newton things, cutting back to follow an opening at the line of scrimmage, and then outrunning everyone else on the field for 69-yards, finally being brought down inside the Miami red zone.

Week 6 vs. Dallas

During the Panthers first run to a Super Bowl appearance in 2003, they kicked off their postseason hosting the Dallas Cowboys. In the third quarter, with a 13-point lead, Jake Delhomme dropped back and lofted a rainbow towards the front corner of the end zone. Receiver Steve Smith Sr. tracked it the whole way, timing his jump over Terence Newman perfectly to come down with the touchdown catch.

It would be the final touchdown Carolina scored that day, but the lead was more than enough, and they won, 29-10.

Week 7 at New York Jets

It was Week 12 of the 2017 season and the Panthers found themselves in a battle with the Jets. The game went back-and-forth well into the fourth-quarter. Then, the front-seven took over. On a Josh McCown drop back, defensive end Wes Horton rushed up an open-gap, sacking McCown. The ball started to jar loose, when defensive tackle Star Lotulelei came in and guaranteed it hit the ground. From there, linebacker Luke Kuechly—forever with a nose for the ball—scooped up the loose ball and took it back 34-yards for the go-ahead touchdown. After a 60-yard punt return from Kaelin Clay put another touchdown on the board, the gap was too significant for the Jets to overcome.

Week 8 vs. Buffalo

The Week 7 game of the 2009 season was a low-scoring affair for three quarters. The Panthers trailed 7-2 heading into the fourth-quarter, their only points till then coming from a safety. Then, during the fourth-quarter, there was a flurry of points. One scoring play for Carolina came in a vintage Deangelo Williams run.

On a fourth-and-1, the running back took the ball and appeared as good as tackled at the line of scrimmage…until he wasn't. He refused to go down, shaking off a defender and pinging off bodies until he ran in the 15-yard touchdown.

Week 9 at Packers

After a low scoring first quarter in this 2008 matchup, the Panthers jumped out to a 21-10 halftime lead. Carolina and Green Bay traded punches in the second half though, and when the Panthers got the ball back with 1:48 remaining in the game, they trailed the Packers 28-31. But Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith would need only one play to get into the red zone.

From his own 45-yard line, Delhomme heaved a bomb down the middle of the field, and Smith cut in front of safety Will Blackmon just in time to nab the pass, shuffling forward for a few extra yards. In total, the play picked up 54-yards. One play later, Deangelo Williams ran in the 1-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing drive, Jon Beason picked off Aaron Rodgers to end any chance of a comeback, and Carolina went home with a 35-31 win.

Week 10 vs. New Orleans

Divisional opponents lend themselves to iconic plays and games, and this one is no different. In Week 2 of the Panthers storied 2015 season, Saints QB Luke McCown suited up for the only game he would start during his three year New Orleans career. Drew Brees was injured, McCown stepped in and the Saints kept the game close with a punt-return touchdown.

With just over a minute to go in the fourth-quarter and a five point game, McCown led the Saints to just outside the red zone, trying for the go-ahead score. He zipped one towards Brandin Cooks in the end zone, but Josh Norman was ready, cutting in front of Cooks to jump the pass for what would become a game-winning interception and a 3-0 start.

Week 11 at Atlanta

The most recent entry onto the list of historical plays came in the season finale last year. Looking to put an exclamation mark on an exciting second half of the season—and ensure their division rivals didn't make the playoff—the Panthers went into Atlanta hunting for a win.

Trailing by one possession and in great field position after a Mike Jackson interception on Michael Penix, the Panthers found themselves facing a fourth-and-1. Dave Canales elected to go for it. They needed one yard; they got 12. Bryce Young zipped a pass over the middle that was on such a line, he didn't even need to watch. As the ball was still traveling towards a waiting Tommy Tremble, Young confidently turned his back to the play and signaled touchdown to the camera.

It was a confident move reminiscent of Steph Curry, even drawing praise from the four-time NBA champion and Charlotte native.

Week 12 at 49ers

Wesley Walls spent the first five years of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, even winning a Super Bowl as a rookie. But things never went as well there as he or the team would have hoped. So in his first year with the Panthers—and only Carolina's second year as a franchise—Walls and the club went West for a showdown in the Bay Area.

Walls got the scoring started that day with a 19-yard reception from Steve Beuerlein, and helped put on the route against his old team with another touchdown in the second quarter. The latter was a seven-yard pass dropped into Walls in the back of the end zone to make it 17-0. By games end Walls got his comeback game and the Panthers notched the 23-7 win.

Week 13 vs. Rams

Kurt Warner's second appearance on this list came courtesy of a Panthers win over "The Greatest Show On Turf" during the height of its popularity. The Panthers had already delivered the Rams their second loss of the season back in Week 10 of the 2000 season. Four games later, the Rams visited Charlotte, sitting at 8-4, looking for revenge against their then divisional opponent (shoutout the old geographically inaccurate NFC West).

The Panthers weren't willing to give it. With a mere 3-0 lead mid-way through the third quarter, the Rams were finally driving, sitting at the Carolina 17-yard line. Warner tried to throw a quick short slant, but Jimmy Hitchcock jumped the ball. He took it back 88-yards, untouched and only having to outrun Warner by the end. He strutted into the end zone for the 7-3 lead and the Panthers would go on to defeat the defending Super Bowl champions for the second time that season, 16-3.

Week 15 at New Orleans

Drew Brees was back in the saddle for the second divisional face-off in 2015 and as such, this one went back-and-forth with both teams trading punches till the end. Then, the Panthers reminded everyone why they were one of the best offenses in the league that season. Cam Newton and crew got the ball back with a little over five minutes remaining. Newton marched the team downfield on an 11-play drive that milked 4:16 off the clock.

It was capped with a 15-yard dot to Jerricho Cotchery in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead and winning touchdown in a 41-38 slugfest.

Week 16 vs. Tampa

The Panthers race for an undefeated season in 2015 was foiled with a Week 16 falter against the Falcons. Looking to get back on track ahead of the postseason, Carolina took out that frustration on their final regular season opponent that year, the Bucs. After an early Tampa Bay field goal, Newton and the offense went on a run, capping the 38-10 win with a 16-yard catch-and-run from Devin Funchess, complete with dance moves.

Week 17 vs. Seattle

Did you really think we'd make a list of historical plays and not include one of Luke Kuechly's Pick-6's? The legendary linebacker returned his first interception for a touchdown during the 2015 regular season against the Cowboys. When the Panthers welcomed Seattle to Charlotte for the first round of the playoffs—looking to avenge their loss to Seattle in the divisional round the year before—he did it again.

On the Seahawks first drive of the game—already down 7-0—Russell Wilson was facing a second-and-13 from his own 11-yard line. Defensive lineman Kawann Short rushed up the gap to pressure Wilson, forcing him into an early throw. Forever the smart player with an eye on the ball, Kuechly was ready, in place to catch the ball as if it was thrown to him. He took an angle to the end zone and put the Panthers up 14-0, in a divisional playoff matchup they'd win 31-24.

Week 18 at Tampa

It was Week 9 of the 2005 season, and the Panthers were looking to continue their win streak during a trip to Tampa.

On the Buccaneers first drive of the third quarter, Chris Simms tried to swing a quick pass left. Chris Gamble was on it before anyone knew what happened. He raced back 61-yards for the touchdown, the only person keeping up with him, Julius Peppers, celebrating the whole way.